Inhaler.



IVI. L. TOWNSEND.

INHALER,

APPLICATION FILED APR.26, |911.

1,262,874. l Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

v g4/we 444201 Slm/imm@ lNHALER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26.19|7.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nl. L. TOWNSEND.

SLW/Wm MAURICE L. TOWNSEND, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

INI-IALER.

specication of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed April 26, 1917. Serial No. 164,686.

To all' whom z't may concern Beit known that I, MAURICE L. TOWN- SEND, acitizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county ofMecklenburg and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Inhalers; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to that class of devices intended principally foradministering anesthetics such as ether and chloroform, although it willbe understood that the device may be used for all other purposesnecessitating inhalation of fumes.

I am aware that numerous devices have heretofore been employed for thepurposes above defined, but my invention aims primarily to provide anovel type of inhaler in which the receptacle for the anesthetic or thelike is carried within a mask, when the device is not in use, said maskserving to confine the fumes around the patients nose and mouth. l

A further object is to provide a detachabl connection between the maskand receptacle operable upon relative turning thereof, and to provide avalve operated by additional turningr of said mask and receptacle forcontrolling the strength of the fumes drawn from the latter by breathingof the patient.

In carrying out the last named object, a number of air passages havingpartitions therein are provided, said partitions being covered withabsorbent material to be saturated with thev liquid from which fumes areto be inhaled, a further object of the invention being to provide novelmeans for holding the coverings of said partitions in place and forspacing said partitions apart.

Iith the foregoing general objects in View, the invention resides in thenovel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to behereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part ofthis application and in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of the improved inhaler .indicatedby the line 4 4: of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof on the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig.2;

F io. 4 is a transverse section on the g plane Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of receptacle for the anesthetic or the like;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the mask; y

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the two annular frames and the valvebetween said frames for controlling the currents of air between thepassages thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section,

showing the receptacle nested in the mask for carrying from piace toplace.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral l has reference toa preferably cylindrical receptacle closed at both of its ends, whereasthe numeral 2 designates a mask preferably constructed of metal andshaped to fit over the patients nose and mouth, said mask being ofcylindrical outline and of a size to receive therein the receptacle lwhen the device is not in use, whereby the entire inhaler may be carriedin a physicians Satchel or in any other compact space. One end of thereceptacle l is provided with a hollow plug 3 threaded eX- ternally forreception in a socket 4l carried by the closed end ofthe mask 2, thewall ofv By reference to the drawings, it will bev observed that theplug 3 is positioned at the center of the receptacle l. This is a highlyimportant feature, since said plug is thus receivable in an internally'threaded socket 7 at the closed end of the mask 2.

The mask and receptacle may thus be rigidly connected when the latter isinserted in the former.

By inserting` the plug 3 and` turning the receptacle and maskrelatively, the two will be rigidlyconnected, and additional .turning ofthese parts to a in the socket number of predetermined positions, willvary thestrength of thefumes lentering the mask, this result beingobtained bythe construction now robe described.

frames consisting 'of a ring 10 vat its periph? as required.

-munication ery, a split ring 11 at its center, a radial partition 12oining one end of the split ring With the ring 10, and a radial arm 13connecting the other end of said split ring with the other ring. By thisconstruction, each of the frames 8 and 9 is. formed with anarcuatelyextending blind passage 14C, the closed ends of these passagesbeing formed'by the partitions 12. Arcuate partitions 15 are disposed inthe passages 14 and' said partitions as Well as the other parts of theframes 8 and 9 are provided With coverings 16 of absorbent material. Tohold the coverings of interior of a hollow valve stem 19 by Way f ofperforations 2O formed in said stem. Stem 19 is positioned at the axisof the receptacle 1 and has its outer end disposed in the hollow plug 3for telescopic engagement With a.4 tube section 21 secured centrallyWithin the socket i and communicating with the interior of the mask.Suitable means, such asa groove 22 and-rib 23, are provided forsoconnecting-the tube section 21 and the tubular stem 19, as to causethe latter to be turned from thefformer to set the valve 2i The valve24C is inthe form of a disk interposed between thetivo frames 8 and 9and having perforations 25 for placing` different points of the twopassages 14 in conit will thus be obvious that the=l`ength of Contact ofthe air current with the saturated material in the passages may bereadily controlled. YWheny the perfora tions 25 are in registration withthe gaps v26 between the partitions 12 and the arms 13, the air takeninto 'the device, Willpass from the gap-2G of frame 8 through theperforations 25 and/into the corresponding gap of frame 9. From thelatter it will enter the tubular valve stem 19tlirough the perforations20 and by Way of said stem and tube section 21, will be drawn into themask 2 to beinhaled'by the patient. ln takingk this course, the airAcomes yiniconta'ct With practically none of the saturated material andis rthus impregnated only to aslight extent with fumes therefrom. Byturning tne mask and receptacle relatively, however,rthe valve 24 is setso that the perforations- 25 may Vestablish communicationbetween-'different points of the tivo passages 14. By so doing, the Yaircurrents may be receptacle 1, and thus the strength of said fumes may beaccurately controlled-by simply turnine` the mask and receptacle inrespect to each other. Said receptacle: is pro vided with suitableindicating characters sucli as numbers for coaction with the valve G indetermining the several positions of the valve 2i. Other suitableindicating means, however, could Well be employed.

From they foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,thevconstruction, nianner of operation and advantages of my improvedinhaling device willA be readily understood and it Will be obvious thatalthough the invention is simple and inexpensive, it will be highlyefficient and durable. Probably the best results arev 0btained by thespecific construction shown and described, and infact 1 have`successfully used the device manufactured in'` this Way. riliisconstruction, therefore, constitutes the preferred form ofthe inha'ler.ll Wish it understood, however, that Within the scopeof the invention asclaimed, numerous minor changes may be made Without sacrilicing theprincipal advantages.

l claim: 1. in inhaler comprising. a receptacle having at one end'acoupling member, said receptacle being adapted to contain a substancefioin which fumesare to. be'inlialed, a mask of a size toireceive saidreceptacleY therein when the device is. not in use, said mask having asubstantially closed end, a coupling member carried by said end of themask for coaction with said rst named'cou-y pliiig member to operativelyconnect said mask and receptacle, andavthirdrcoupling member on theinterior. of said substantially closed end of the mask for cooperationwith said first named .coupling member to secure the mask and receptacletogether When theV latter is positioned in tlieformer..

2. An inhaler comprising contain aV substance from which fumesare to beinhaled, a mask for application to the patients face, a couplingconnectingv said mask andreceptacle for relative movement,` and means insaid receptacle for@ controlling."V the strength of thefumes'dischargedthere from, said funielcontro'lling. meansfha'ving anoperating member positioned'in said coupling yand opera-tively connectedWith said mask for actuating-saidmeansfuponv relative movement of saidmask and receptacle.

receptacle to tacle when the latter is inserted in theV former.

4. An inhaler comprising a receptacle to contain the substance fromwhich fumes are to be inhaled, a mask for application to the patientsface, means operable by relative movement of the mask and receptacle forconnecting the two, and means in said receptacle operated by suchrelative movement of said mask and receptacle for controlling thestrength of the fumes entering the former.

An inhaler comprising a receptacle to contain the substance from whichfumes are to be inhaled, a mask for application to the paticnts face, avalve for controlling the strength of the fumes drawn from `thereceptacle into the mask, said valve having a hollow operating stemacting as the fume outlet from said receptacle, and means carried by themask and cooperating with said stem to cause relative movement of saidreceptacle and mask to operate said valve.

6. An inhaler comprising a receptacle to contain the substance fromwhich fumes are to be inhaled, a mask for application to the patientsface, a rotatable valve for controlling the strength of the fumes drawnfrom said receptacle into the mask, said valve having a hollow operatingstem acting as the fume outlet from said receptacle, and means carriedby the mask and coperating with said stem to cause relative turning ofthe receptacle and mask to operate said valve.

7. An inhaler comprising a receptacle to contain the substance fromwhich fumes are to be inhaled, a mask for application to the patientsface, a plug and socket connection between said mask and receptacle andfor admitting fresh air into the latter, a rotatable valve forcontrolling the strength of the fumes drawn from the receptacle, saidvalve having a hollow operating stem acting as the outlet from saidreceptacle, said stem having its outer end positioned in saidconnection, and means coacting with said stem for turning the same uponrelative rotation of the mask and receptacle.

8. An inhaler comprising a receptacle to contain the substance fromwhich fumes are to be inhaled, a mask for application to the patientsface, a plug and socket; connection between said mask and receptacle andfor admitting fresh air into the latter, a rotatable valve forcontrolling the strength of the fumes drawn from the receptacle, saidvalve having a hollow operating stern acting as the outlet from saidreceptacle, said stem having its outer end positioned in saidconnection, a short tube section extending into said connection from themask and telescoping with said stem, and means for preventing relativerotation of said tube section and stem, whereby relative rotation oflthemask and receptacle lwill operate the va ve.

9. An inhaler comprising a receptacle provided with a pair of airpassages having means for impregnatmg the air with fumes,

one of said passages being open to the fresh air and the othercommunicating with an air outlet from the receptacle, and means forplacing different points of the two passages 1n communication.

l0. An inhaler comprising a receptacle provided with a pairof airpassages having means for impregnating the air with fumes, said passagesextending arcuately and being located in parallel planes with theiradjacent sides open, one passage being open to the fresh air and theother communicating with an air outlet from the receptacle, and a rotarydisk valve between said passages for placing different points of the two1n communciation, said valve closing said open sides of the passageswith the exception of a restricted area.

l1. An inhaler having an air passage, a partition in said passage havinga covering of absorbent material to be saturated with the liquid fromwhich fumes are to be inhaled, and spacing coils extending along thesides of said' partition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

MAURICE L. TOWNSEND.

Vitnesses:

JOHN Q. MYERS, H. A. l/VAKEFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patenti,

Washington, D. C.

